Rushane Allen has Windies hopes

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Nineteen-year-old Rushane Allen has been playing cricket from he was as young as age five.

He recalled playing cricket in his community with family members and friends. As he got older, his passion and love for the sport got even stronger.

Allen, who also plays football, is a sixth-form student at the Cross Keys High School. He is an all-rounder who prefers bowling and he is also the captain of his school's cricket team.

At around age nine, he started representing the Grove Town Primary School in cricket competitions. His cricket journey, however, took a somewhat slight detour.

"When I just reached (Cross Keys) in first form, I didn't follow it up as I was shy at that time. The following year, my cousin that I play with now came, and both of us made the Headley Cup team that year," he said.

Allen has represented the school in cricket competitions since he was in second form.

Allen trains five days per week and his ultimate goal is "to play for West Indies cricket team".

He aspires to attend the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, and is going about achieving his goal in what he called a strategic manner.

"I'm working hard to get into college. So I want to play for, a college and then get a good Senior Cup team to play for and from there get a chance to play for the West Indies," he said.

And his West Indies dream may not be far-fetched. In 2016, Allen represented Jamaica in an under-17 cricket competition.

He also played in the Manchester Senior Cup in 2017. He made the St Catherine Senior Cup team but was unable to take up the offer.